Reproductive Impacts of Fenbendazole on Northern Bobwhite Quail

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biological and Environmental Sciences

Date of Award

Summer 8-18-2025

Abstract

Fenbendazole is a widely used benzimidazole veterinary anthelmintic for the treatment of parasitic infections in domestic and wild animals. Recently, the medicated feed QuailGuard (with fenbendazole as the active ingredient) was approved by the FDA to treat cecal parasites in wild Northern Bobwhite quail. However, reproductive harm to Northern Bobwhite quail was not evaluated in the approval process, which is critical since population sustainability is dependent on healthy and consistent reproduction. Northern Bobwhite quail populations have declined >80% since the 1960s, and any reproductive harm could be detrimental to the population recovery. The goal of this study was to evaluate the reproductive impacts of QuailGuard on Northern Bobwhite quail. I hypothesized that fenbendazole would negatively impact egg laying rates and increase corticosterone levels in Northern Bobwhite quail, and that fenbendazole will be maternally transferred to egg yolk. To test these hypotheses, QuailGuard was fed to Northern Bobwhite quail breeding pairs (N=15 breeding pair; N=30 Northern Bobwhite quail) for the recommended 21-day treatment cycle. Eggs and fecal samples were collected daily from a control group and a treatment group. Egg laying rates, egg lengths and egg widths were all recorded. Stress levels were analyzed using Arbor Assays protocol for the DetectX® Corticosterone Multi-Format ELISA Kit, and egg yolk was tested for the presence of fenbendazole using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). An increase in stress levels was not detected between the control and experimental groups. HPLC analyses confirmed the presence of fenbendazole in egg yolk samples from quail fed QuailGuard.

Advisor

Kelly Reyna

Subject Categories

Biology | Life Sciences

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